Spring Activity: Snakes on the Move

We are getting to the time of year where snakes are going tostart moving (or, in some places, already have). This is a time when many human/snakeinteractions occur. So why are they moving and what should you do if youencounter or are bitten by a snake?

Why they are moving

Snakes and other reptiles are ectotherms (some refer to thisas cold-blooded). This means that they rely on external sources of heat, likethe sun or a patch of shade, to regulate their body temperature. That beingsaid, in the winter months, these animals have no way to keep warm and oftentake shelter in a variety of denning areas, such as rocky outcrops, burrows, orstumps where ambient temperatures are warmer than on the surface. Some snakesoverwinter alone but many snakes will overwinter communally, with manyindividuals of the same or different species sharing the same overwinteringsite, or hibernaculum. This is not really a form of hibernation, but rather oftime of inactivity. During this time, snakes rarely eat as they are notexpending much energy.

As winter turns to spring and the outside temperatures getwarmer, the snakes start to become more active. It begins with basking.Initially, snakes typically will not move far from their hibernaculum, but willstay rather close and bask in sunny areas, sometimes retreating back into the hibernaculumin the evenings when temperatures cool. As the temperatures become consistentlywarmer, the snakes will begin to move away from their hibernacula to theirsummer habitat. There are a variety of reasons snakes move away from their hibernacula.Some snakes may move to locate foraging areas, to find mates, or to give birth. While in their summer habitats, which can be widely distributed, they willmake relatively shorter movements, although in many rattlesnake species, themales will move extensively during the late summer in search of females formating. Snakes begin moving back to their hibernacula in the fall. In manyspecies, snakes are very consistent in returning to the same hibernaculum yearafter year, but some do not and search out new areas to overwinter. Manyhuman/snake interactions occur during the spring and fall when snakes aremoving from one seasonal habitat to another.

What to do if you encounter a snake

If you encounter a snake in the wild – simply leave italone. Snakes are generally shy animals, if you do not appear to be a threat,odds are the snake will not interact with you and you can both go your separateways. Contrary to popular myth, most snakes will not chase you. On the otherhand, these encounters can be very rewarding, and give you the opportunity toobserve these species in their native habitat. Most snake bites occur when peopletry to move, kill, or otherwise harass snakes, so if you choose to observethese species when you encounter them, please do so at a respectful distancefor the safety of you and the snake. If you find snakes in your yard, let thempass through. If it is a venomous snake, keep children and pets out of thevicinity until it has moved on. Do not attempt to move or kill these animals. Snakesbelong in our environments, however, if snakes in your yard are a problem foryou, try to determine what is there that attracts them, such as cover, a watersource, or abundant prey (like rodents). Removing these attractants is the bestway to encourage the snake to move on. On the other hand, if you are a snakeenthusiast and want to attract these species, try placing sheet metal, rockpiles, scrap metal, and other debris around your property. This providesvaluable cover areas for snakes which will promote their occurrence on yourproperty.

Enlarge PhotoTimber Rattlesnake

Reducing risk and what to do if you are bitten

It is very important that you learn to identify the snakesin your area. In the rare event that you are bitten by a snake, identificationwill help determine if you need medical attention. To reduce the risk of snakebite, be observant when placing your hands in or under rocks, wood, or increvices. Watch where you are walking when in areas where snakes occur andduring the seasons when snakes are most active and choose footwear that ispractical for the areas you are in (i.e. boots as opposed to sandals). Supervise children and pets when you are in areas where snakes occur and teachyour children to leave snakes alone. In the event that you are bitten by avenomous snake or cannot identify a snake that has bitten you, stay calm andseek immediate medical attention. Remove any restricting clothing or jewelryaround the bite area and if possible, keep the bitten area below the level ofyour heart.

Statistically speaking, snake bites are rare. Do not let thefear of a human/snake interaction keep you from enjoying the outdoors. If youpromptly seek medical attention (at least in North America), you may be at justas much risk riding to the hospital as you are from the snake bite itself. Mostsnake bites can be prevented with common sense and awareness of yoursurroundings. It is important to understand that these species are vital toour ecosystems. Snakes are something to be respected, but not feared.

(Please note: This information is general and based on NorthAmerican snake species. Not all snake species, even within North America, mayfollow these activity patterns.)

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